Maths, physics optional for BTech, institutions to run bridge courses: AICTE

NEW DELHI: Students no longer need to study physics or mathematics in Class 12 to be eligible for undergraduate engineering programmes -- the four-year BE or BTech. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has done away with physics and mathematics as compulsory subjects for eligibility to help students from “diverse backgrounds”.

Instead, in its 2021-22 approval process handbook, the AICTE has made candidates who have passed Class 12 with any combination of three subjects out of a list of 14 eligible for the four-year BTech or BE programme. These subjects include physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science, electronics, information technology, biology, informatics practices, biotechnology, technical vocational subject, agriculture, engineering graphics, business studies or entrepreneurship.

BTech and ‘bridge courses’

The AICTE has asked the universities to offer “suitable bridge courses such as mathematics, physics, engineering drawing, etc., for the students coming from diverse backgrounds to achieve desired learning outcomes of the programme”, says the handbook.

Till last year, a candidate was required to have passed the Class 12 examination with “physics and mathematics as compulsory subjects” along with one of the remaining list of 12.

In the past few years, there has been a decline in students opting for BTech courses which led to AICTE deciding not to approve any new engineering colleges from the academic year 2020-21. Over the last five years, around 25-30 percent undergraduate engineering seats in the country were going vacant out of a total of 14 lakh.

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